I have managed three runs this week. One after work, one during lunch (a 5k in just 7 seconds over 30minutes) and today was my weekend long run. And I smashed it! So I must be getting fitter because 5 weeks ago I never could have run 6.6k (I only stopped running to walk up a little hill that I forgot was coming). So clearly all this running is actually having an effect on my fitness and now I can feel it. And even though I stopped when the app said to, I probably could have kept going.

I did a big loop around the town and found a great path round a new build estate that I think I will make a regular route. Only problem was that when the run ended (I did a guided 42 min run from the Nike Run Club app) I wasn’t entirely sure how to get home. So I ended up walking a long cool down route, but I did discover a whole new side of the town I have lived in for 4years. I can’t wait to go out again and find more hidden parts of the town.

Have you discovered anything on a run?

Sundays are going to be my long run days and I had a few things to do today so I went first thing in the morning (well second, as I had a coffee of course). And it was awesome, I kept my pace slow so that I could run non stop (which I did!) and I very quickly got into my stride. I saw no one else until the very end and the Sun shone and I got damp shins from the dew. It was glorious.

Although I maybe getting ahead of myself, I’m trying to find some mantras to recite to myself when the distances really rack up. One that came up on the Nike Coach Run today was “Run with the Run”. I quite like that so will use for a while .

This was one of those runs where it all just worked! Looking forward to my next long one.

I run with a hat because I like to be able to isolate myself and a hat helps. But it turns out that it isolates too much. On my 5k out and back, I avoided a low hanging tree branch on the out, but on the back I was so focused on keeping going and avoiding the stinging nettles that I didn’t see the branch because the visor of my hat hid it from me. Wham! Knocked my hat off. Luckily its was a small branch but enough to give me a bit of a bump.

So my grand piece of advice, now that I am a wiser runner, is don’t wear a hat. Or, you know, look up a bit more frequently!

30:39min 5km

Just did 5k non stop. Honestly wasn’t expecting to get here so soon. Either I’ve under estimated myself or I’m gonna pay for it over the next couple of days.

I learnt that although I don’t like running after eating dinner (I even waited an hour after eating an omelette). I can do it! But I’d rather run before I eat.

Had a slight panic on this run as just at the 2k mark I came across some race marshals and I thought I was about to be swept into an unexpected 10k race or be battling the wrong way through a crowd of super keen speedy runners. As it was, it was a cycling time trial. Phew!

So now I can set my first time goal. I did that 5k in 31min 12 sec. so my first challenge to myself is to 5k in less than 30min.

What challenge have you set yourself today?

What an appetising picture!